Myo-inositol is a promising treatment for the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): an animal study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of myo-inositol (MI) pretreatment in OHSS. METHODS: In this experimental OHSS rat model, 42 immature Wistar albino female rats were divided into 6 groups: (1) the control group, (2) the ovarian stimulation group, (3) the OHSS group, (4) the OHSS + Metformin group, (5) OHSS + MI group, (6) OHSS + Metformin + MI group. OHSS was established after treatment with metformin and myo-inositol for 14 days, in the meanwhile the treatment of metformin and myo-inositol was also continued. All animals were killed 48 h after hCG administration and were compared in terms of vascular permeability, ovarian weight and diameter, ovarian VEGF, COX-2 and PEDF expression (immunohistochemistry), serum PEDF and estradiol (E2) levels. RESULTS: Vascular permeability, VEGF and COX-2 expressions were reduced in animals treated with MI and/or metformin. While PEDF expression was increased in the groups taking metformin, there was no difference in PEDF expression in the group taking MI and OHSS group. There was no significant difference in serum PEDF levels between groups. Blood E2 levels were decreased in groups treated with MI or metformin compared to the OHSS group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that myo-inositol is effective in preventing OHSS, similar to metformin. Although the two drugs are thought to act through distinct mechanisms, there is no apparent benefit to co-treatment with both drugs in an animal model of OHSS. Administration of myo-inositol prior to IVF treatment may favor the control of ovulation induction. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of action and further support our findings.

Predictivity of uterine artery, arcuate artery, and intraovarian artery Doppler indices measured on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin injection on pregnancy outcomes.

The uterine, arcuate, and intraovarian blood flow measurements by transvaginal color doppler ultrasonography on the day of hCG injection in 46 women undergoing treatment by IVF at Aegean University Family Planning and Infertility Research and Treatment Center were evaluated. In the pregnant group, average uterine and arcuate arteries blood flow resistance values were lower than those in nonpregnant women.

Effect of ovarian cysts detected on the beginning day of ovulation induction to the success rates in ART cycles.

AIM: In the present study, we examined the outcome of assisted reproductive technology cycles in patients with or without baseline ovarian cysts following gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogs administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-hundred and fifty-six patients who had undergone assisted reproductive technology treatment were enrolled in the study. The patients, all of who had undergone cyst aspiration prior to ovarian stimulation, were grouped into two groups according to the absence or presence of ovarian cysts. These two groups were compared on the basis of the clinical pregnancy rates, the baseline E2 levels, the total follicle stimulating hormone ampules used, the total number of days of induction, the maximum E2 levels, the number of oocytes retrieved, the fertilization rates and the number of embryos available for transfer per controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycle. RESULTS: The number of ampules used for induction was significantly higher in the cyst group 37.2 +/- 13.0, 32.1 +/- 11.7, respectively, (P = 0.001). The number of total induction days was also longer in the cyst group 9.7 +/- 2.2, 8.9 +/- 1.6, respectively, (P = 0.001). There was no difference between the mean E2 levels measured on the human chorionic gonadotropin administration days (P = 0.339). There was also no difference in terms of the number of oocyte retrieved (P = 0.846). The number of embryos transferred did not differ statistically between the groups (P = 0.233). Finally, there was no significant difference between the groups according to the clinical pregnancy rates 25.3%, 30.7%, respectively, (P = 0.218). CONCLUSION: Baseline ovarian cysts have a negative impact on the quality of ovarian hyperstimulation procedure; however, they have no negative effect on the pregnancy rates in IVF cycles.

Intraovarian stromal artery Doppler indices in predicting ovarian response.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of ovarian stromal artery Doppler indices in the prediction of ovarian response in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-five cases were involved in the study. Following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and detection of at least three follicles > 17 mm in diameter by transvaginal sonography in both ovaries, human chorionic gonadotropin was administered and follicle aspiration performed at the 34th-36th hour. The patients were separated into two groups according to the number of oocytes collected. Group I consisted of 8 (18%) patients who had three or fewer oocytes (low-responder cases); group II consisted of 37 (82%) patients who had 4 or more oocytes (good-response cases). RESULTS: A significant negative correlation was found between both the stromal ovarian artery pulsatility index and the number of aspirated follicles (r = -.31, P = .04) and number of oocytes collected (r = -.32, P = .03). Although there was no significant correlation between the resistance index and number of aspirated follicles (r = .24, P = .12), a significant negative correlation was determined between the resistance index and number of oocytes collected (r = -.30, P = .04). Pulsatility and resistance indices were significantly different between the two groups (1.6 +/- 0.5 and 1.2 +/- 0.5, P = .02, versus 0.7 +/- 0.08 and 0.6 +/- 0.08, P = .03, respectively). CONCLUSION: Blood flow in the vessels that supply blood to the follicles in the ovaries in the early follicular phase correlates significantly with ovarian response.

Comparison of the reduction of postoperative adhesions by two barriers, one solution, and two pharmacologic agents in the rat uterine model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of two barriers, one solution, and two pharmacologic agents, in single or in combined use, for preventing postsurgical adhesion formation in the rat model. DESIGN: A randomized, prospective study to evaluate the ability of leuprolide acetate, oxidized regenerated cellulose, medroxyprogesterone acetate, sodium hyaluronate, sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethyl cellulose, in single or in combined use, for preventing adhesion formation in a rat model. ANIMAL(S): Wistar female rats. SETTING: University animal laboratory. INTERVENTION(S): Intramuscular injection of pharmacologic agents before surgery and intraperitoneal application of barriers and solution at the end of surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Two weeks after surgery, a second laparotomy was performed and the extent of adhesion formation was determined. RESULT(S): All the treatment groups had fewer, less severe adhesions when compared with controls. The combination of medroxyprogesterone acetate and oxidized regenerated cellulose did enhance the adhesion-reducing capacity of oxidized regenerated cellulose. The performance of sodium hyaluronate solution for adhesion prevention was statistically significant, when compared with oxidized regenerated cellulose alone, or sodium hyaluronate used with carboxymethyl cellulose film. CONCLUSION(S): Pharmacologic agents, barriers, or solutions result in significant reduction of postsurgical adhesions. The sodium hyaluronate solution alone and medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment alone had the least adhesion prevention scores. However, neither monotherapy nor combined therapy proved to be significantly more beneficial.